The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

The funny thing is there are people in CFB that wants to make it even more exclusive and turn it into NFL-Light. If they get their way they will find they have killed the golden Goose.

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

The funny thing is there are people in CFB that wants to make it even more exclusive and turn it into NFL-Light. If they get their way they will find they have killed the golden Goose.

What always attracted me to college football was the different styles among the teams. Unlike the nfl, many teams employed different offenses like I formation and the wishbone. Ever since Byu was able to take down Miami in 89, there was a gradual push to passing designed offenses. Now, the only offenses you see are the pro formation and five wide. In my opinion the college game does not stand alone anymore.

(06-05-2020 03:19 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 08:19 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 07:11 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 06:33 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  UC Football is a fantastic value. Good teams. Good Atmosphere. Good venue. This coming from a Miami Grad. The stadium should be full every game, but the Ohio State voodoo sucks the life out of the program.

OSU is a factor but there’s more. 50% of Greater Cincinnati wishes UC was not here. Between Miami grads (there are exceptions like yourself), XU grads, and fans of OSU, UK, Notre Dame, ransom SEC team, etc it only leaves half of the population to work with off the bat. With an NFL team in town then you have economy of money and time issues (even if you have the money, how many people can devote both days to football in the fall? It’s a tough pill for guys with a wife and kids).

This is why I have advocated for over a decade that UC needs to grow its presence in Dayton and other parts of the state. We’ve capped out our fan base in the Tri-State.

While there will always be fans of other teams in big cities I would argue that UC has only really had 15 years to market itself as a "real" football team and to build a consistent rabid fanbase will take more time.

I would argue that I am in the first UC graduating class to have a relevant football team for their entire time at UC 2006-2010. I am not trying to take away from the good teams that came before, but those good seasons never culminated in sustained success.

This coincides with the fact that we are seeing the first group of kids who are now growing up as true Bearcat Football fans who witnessed the success of the past 15 years.

If we continue to maintain the level of success we have seen over the past 15 years then the fans, and diehards will come. We are at a point where I feel 9 wins with a bowl game should be the expectation every year. Anything less is a letdown or failure.

That is a far cry from my Freshman year in 2006 when I watched the Miami game while lying sprawled out in the bleachers as a pledge double-fisting beers. Not many programs can tout that kind of change in a short period.

We live in a society that wants instant gratification, and you are trying to fight against institutions that have been entrenched in Cincinnati, and Ohio for 50+ years.

You are right. I am 47, went to UC in the early to mid 90s. Many guys my age are fans of other programs or do not follow CFB. My generation had UC hoops so some of them have come around a little on FB, but it is even worse for UC grads from the 80s who had neither FB of BB success.

My oldest is 20 and just wrapped up his second year at UC. He has always supported the Bearcats as did most of his friends. I think the support for UC is even stronger for my youngest two who are only 9 and 8.

As one of those early 80s guys who suffered with both bad football and basketball downtown, its a miracle what the brand has become. Imagine one of the largest commuter universities in the world where students drove in, went to class, TUC, library, and went back home to high school friends, high school jobs, and living with Mom & Dad. Those adults today admit they never went to UC games and had zero "college experience".

Those of us that actually lived on campus, played varsity or intramural sports, participated in student groups and broke bread and libations together in dorm cafeterias, greek houses, local restaurants, and endless bars are very, very proud of the UC that is now. We all feel like we survived the dark days of UC athletics. We knew each other back then because after 4pm when the commuters went home, UC was a very small school. And so many I still see today in leadership roles with the Alumni Association, student groups, fraternities, Metro, and Sigma Sigma.

Yes, since the hiring of Huggs and then the movement into the Big East, everything UC has been building is creating strong generations of UC fans for the future.

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

So if a team cannot play for an NC they should just abandon the sport?

I can enjoy my school playing even if there is no chance of an NC.

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

Our 2009 season probably wouldnt be a great example since there were 5 undefeated teams that year...so of course not all of them would play unless we had a fair playoff system. If anything, I'd say a season like that one would bring MORE casuals in, not less.

(06-07-2020 06:38 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

Our 2009 season probably wouldnt be a great example since there were 5 undefeated teams that year...so of course not all of them would play unless we had a fair playoff system. If anything, I'd say a season like that one would bring MORE casuals in, not less.

I wish that season could have happened with a four team playoff. I think Alabama, Texas, and UC would have been in a playoff being unbeaten in a “power” conference. But would the 4th spot have gone to TCU, Boise, or 1-loss Florida?

(06-07-2020 02:24 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

So if a team cannot play for an NC they should just abandon the sport?

I can enjoy my school playing even if there is no chance of an NC.

How was that your take away from me saying I only watch UC football? Doesn't take away from my enjoyment of watching UC play, just gives me no interest in watching college football as a whole. Wouldn't have any interest in watching college basketball as a whole either if there was only the Final 4 with Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and UNC or Michigan St playing in it every year.

No chance at winning a title definitely hurts the program in the eyes of casual fans, national perception, recruiting, retaining coaches, profitability, etc though.

(06-07-2020 07:10 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 05:58 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(06-06-2020 11:38 PM)Cattidude Wrote:  

(06-06-2020 01:46 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 07:44 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Great post and I wholeheartedly agree with all your points.

I would only add that UC may have two competitive advantages. First, we've seen dramatically increased enrollment through much of the past decade and student attendance and passion for the "Nippert experience" are off the charts, even allowing for the down cycle of the Tuberville years. If even half of these students stay within 50 miles of campus after graduation, that could fill a lot of empty seats.

Second, we don't have huge numbers of empty seats left to fill. And a full 40,000 at Nippert looks a lot more impressive to recruits and the national TV audience than cavernous stadia with massive sections of empty seats in any number of P5 universities. Or for that matter, AAC competitors USF and Temple trying to fill NFL venues.

Anyone who has visited Nippert for the first time in the past two seasons has to be impressed with both the game day experience and victories over known brands UCLA and UCF. Many will want to come back for more. UC may be one New Year's Day bowl win away from attaining the respect a TCU or West Virginia had when each school accepted B12 invitations.

Please post this on our 247 board. Thank you.

I really hope that whomever your new AD is can maybe push even harder for an OCS. Make that their big goal for their AD tenure.

UC will get to develop the Burnet Woods before Temple gets to build an OCS. Seriously. Take the opposition to UC using the park and multiply it by about 10...that's what Temple faces.

Temple was short sighted and gave up using Temple stadium and started using The Eagles Stadium. They tore it down and sold the land instead of upgrading or building a new stadium on the site. Now they are stuck!

That area is pretty far from campus. It's over a 2 mile walk from the two closest transit stations. If we were doing that, we could just build on our Ambler campus, which is also a bad idea.

(06-07-2020 11:31 AM)Ragpicker Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 03:19 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 08:19 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 07:11 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-05-2020 06:33 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  UC Football is a fantastic value. Good teams. Good Atmosphere. Good venue. This coming from a Miami Grad. The stadium should be full every game, but the Ohio State voodoo sucks the life out of the program.

OSU is a factor but there’s more. 50% of Greater Cincinnati wishes UC was not here. Between Miami grads (there are exceptions like yourself), XU grads, and fans of OSU, UK, Notre Dame, ransom SEC team, etc it only leaves half of the population to work with off the bat. With an NFL team in town then you have economy of money and time issues (even if you have the money, how many people can devote both days to football in the fall? It’s a tough pill for guys with a wife and kids).

This is why I have advocated for over a decade that UC needs to grow its presence in Dayton and other parts of the state. We’ve capped out our fan base in the Tri-State.

While there will always be fans of other teams in big cities I would argue that UC has only really had 15 years to market itself as a "real" football team and to build a consistent rabid fanbase will take more time.

I would argue that I am in the first UC graduating class to have a relevant football team for their entire time at UC 2006-2010. I am not trying to take away from the good teams that came before, but those good seasons never culminated in sustained success.

This coincides with the fact that we are seeing the first group of kids who are now growing up as true Bearcat Football fans who witnessed the success of the past 15 years.

If we continue to maintain the level of success we have seen over the past 15 years then the fans, and diehards will come. We are at a point where I feel 9 wins with a bowl game should be the expectation every year. Anything less is a letdown or failure.

That is a far cry from my Freshman year in 2006 when I watched the Miami game while lying sprawled out in the bleachers as a pledge double-fisting beers. Not many programs can tout that kind of change in a short period.

We live in a society that wants instant gratification, and you are trying to fight against institutions that have been entrenched in Cincinnati, and Ohio for 50+ years.

You are right. I am 47, went to UC in the early to mid 90s. Many guys my age are fans of other programs or do not follow CFB. My generation had UC hoops so some of them have come around a little on FB, but it is even worse for UC grads from the 80s who had neither FB of BB success.

My oldest is 20 and just wrapped up his second year at UC. He has always supported the Bearcats as did most of his friends. I think the support for UC is even stronger for my youngest two who are only 9 and 8.

As one of those early 80s guys who suffered with both bad football and basketball downtown, its a miracle what the brand has become. Imagine one of the largest commuter universities in the world where students drove in, went to class, TUC, library, and went back home to high school friends, high school jobs, and living with Mom & Dad. Those adults today admit they never went to UC games and had zero "college experience".

Those of us that actually lived on campus, played varsity or intramural sports, participated in student groups and broke bread and libations together in dorm cafeterias, greek houses, local restaurants, and endless bars are very, very proud of the UC that is now. We all feel like we survived the dark days of UC athletics. We knew each other back then because after 4pm when the commuters went home, UC was a very small school. And so many I still see today in leadership roles with the Alumni Association, student groups, fraternities, Metro, and Sigma Sigma.

Yes, since the hiring of Huggs and then the movement into the Big East, everything UC has been building is creating strong generations of UC fans for the future.

Excellent post! In a few short sentences you have summarized the cultural change at UC that has transformed the entire campus life experience and created a passion for football and basketball that has brought the gameday experiences to a new high--and still climbing.

I remember the story of some Miami (OH) folks from several years ago coming to Nippert for their game here and commenting that UC football had clearly transcended MU (and all things MAC for that matter) and that it's a big time atmosphere. We can be pretty hard on ourselves sometimes, but many P5 football programs would gladly trade for what we've enjoyed the past decade.

(06-07-2020 09:27 AM)rosewater Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

The funny thing is there are people in CFB that wants to make it even more exclusive and turn it into NFL-Light. If they get their way they will find they have killed the golden Goose.

What always attracted me to college football was the different styles among the teams. Unlike the nfl, many teams employed different offenses like I formation and the wishbone. Ever since Byu was able to take down Miami in 89, there was a gradual push to passing designed offenses. Now, the only offenses you see are the pro formation and five wide. In my opinion the college game does not stand alone anymore.

I agree and I started watching College Football as a kid in the Mid 80s and there were so many different styles of football from then until the early to Mid 90s. i always enjoyed the clashes of styles. Miami also shook up College Football when they beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl for their first National Championship. Most of the Traditional Powers were still run oriented like USC, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama. More emphasis was put on Passing and Speed. Florida State and Florida followed Miami.

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

Purdue has won the Big 10 in football 12 times since 1891 and twice in the last 70 years (67 & 2000). Indiana has won the Big 10 twice (45 & 67). They may care less about football than they did in the past but it certainly isn't because they long for days of yore when they were winning a ton of championships. Indiana has played Ohio State 89 times and won 9 with an average point differential of 16.7 points. Purdue has played Ohio State 57 times and won 15 with an average point differential of 10.9.

(06-09-2020 01:00 PM)skylinecat Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

Purdue has won the Big 10 in football 12 times since 1891 and twice in the last 70 years (67 & 2000). Indiana has won the Big 10 twice (45 & 67). They may care less about football than they did in the past but it certainly isn't because they long for days of yore when they were winning a ton of championships. Indiana has played Ohio State 89 times and won 9 with an average point differential of 16.7 points. Purdue has played Ohio State 57 times and won 15 with an average point differential of 10.9.

Bolded, hence the old moniker for the Big Ten: Big Two/Little Eight. I'm always amused by how fans of bottom feeders in the P5 like to pound their chests about being "power conference" schools while being dismissive of what a UC, UCF or Houston has accomplished. Houston and UCF have pretty impressive "signature" wins over historically strong programs such as Florida State and Auburn in New Year's bowls. Memphis gave Penn State a much better game than most B10 opponents. It's still about the best teams on the field more than conference logos.

(06-09-2020 01:00 PM)skylinecat Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

Purdue has won the Big 10 in football 12 times since 1891 and twice in the last 70 years (67 & 2000). Indiana has won the Big 10 twice (45 & 67). They may care less about football than they did in the past but it certainly isn't because they long for days of yore when they were winning a ton of championships. Indiana has played Ohio State 89 times and won 9 with an average point differential of 16.7 points. Purdue has played Ohio State 57 times and won 15 with an average point differential of 10.9.

Indiana and Purdue are probably not the best examples to use about college football interests. They never have cared about football. They only care about hoops at those two places.

A better example may be someone like Pitt. Strong tradition. Fairly recent national championship. Heisman trophy winner.

Unless Pitt is playing PSU or ND, nobody gives a rip about Pitt games anymore.

... with one exception in 2009 when they thought they had a chance at going to a bcs game.

(06-09-2020 03:07 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(06-09-2020 01:00 PM)skylinecat Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

Purdue has won the Big 10 in football 12 times since 1891 and twice in the last 70 years (67 & 2000). Indiana has won the Big 10 twice (45 & 67). They may care less about football than they did in the past but it certainly isn't because they long for days of yore when they were winning a ton of championships. Indiana has played Ohio State 89 times and won 9 with an average point differential of 16.7 points. Purdue has played Ohio State 57 times and won 15 with an average point differential of 10.9.

Indiana and Purdue are probably not the best examples to use about college football interests. They never have cared about football. They only care about hoops at those two places.

A better example may be someone like Pitt. Strong tradition. Fairly recent national championship. Heisman trophy winner.

Unless Pitt is playing PSU or ND, nobody gives a rip about Pitt games anymore.

... with one exception in 2009 when they thought they had a chance at going to a bcs game.

Interesting case with Pitt's fan following.

I've often wondered if they came to regret demolishing their old campus football stadium (where they played when they won that national championship in 1976) to make way for a shiny new basketball arena. That arena is a great facility but forcing football into an NFL stadium downtown has not worked well for most college football programs.

(06-10-2020 09:50 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(06-09-2020 03:07 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(06-09-2020 01:00 PM)skylinecat Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(06-07-2020 08:12 AM)DelhiBearcat Wrote:  The problem for football is college football is a complete joke. UC went undefeated in 2010 and didn't play for a title. UCF went undefeated for 2 years straight in the AAC and didn't play for a title. Hard to get casuals to invest too much into games that are for all intents and purposes meaningless. On the flip side, I only watch UC football when it comes to college. Doesn't get much more boring than watching the same 5 or 6 teams play for a title every year.

That’s a bigger CFB problem and they are seeing losses in attendance and fan interest. Fans of places like IU and Purdue could care less because they know they have zero shot at winning B10. Even the heavyweights are seeing a decline at the gate when a bottom feeder concerned mate comes to town. When I lived in Columbus they would sell their tickets off to some rube from Massillon/Lima/Steubenville etc who otherwise could not get tickets for home games that were not Michigan/Penn State/Wisconsin.

Purdue has won the Big 10 in football 12 times since 1891 and twice in the last 70 years (67 & 2000). Indiana has won the Big 10 twice (45 & 67). They may care less about football than they did in the past but it certainly isn't because they long for days of yore when they were winning a ton of championships. Indiana has played Ohio State 89 times and won 9 with an average point differential of 16.7 points. Purdue has played Ohio State 57 times and won 15 with an average point differential of 10.9.

Indiana and Purdue are probably not the best examples to use about college football interests. They never have cared about football. They only care about hoops at those two places.

A better example may be someone like Pitt. Strong tradition. Fairly recent national championship. Heisman trophy winner.

Unless Pitt is playing PSU or ND, nobody gives a rip about Pitt games anymore.

... with one exception in 2009 when they thought they had a chance at going to a bcs game.

Interesting case with Pitt's fan following.

I've often wondered if they came to regret demolishing their old campus football stadium (where they played when they won that national championship in 1976) to make way for a shiny new basketball arena. That arena is a great facility but forcing football into an NFL stadium downtown has not worked well for most college football programs.

Pitt fans are a miserable lot. By comparison it's all unicorns and rainbows with our fans (who also are a bit sensitive TBH). One of the tings I have noticed about Pitt fans from reading their boards is that they see themselves as an athletic peer of Penn State and Notre Dame. They think they are Grey Poupon when they are really just regular mustard. They believe other schools are steerage class, including a lot of programs that have been much more successful than them the past 30 years. They don't go to those games out of elitism.

I am not sure if an OCS would help them.

The Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh is so tight, getting in and out of old Pitt stadium was quite the task. I had to do a hospital call up at UPMC-Presby a couple of years back at the tip- off time of a sPitt game at the Peterson. (The main entrance to the hospital is across the street from the main entrance to the arena...) No problems whatsoever. (The game was sparsely attended.) When I remarked that to the hospital staff, they laughed and said how different the situation was from the days when the football stadium was there...

(06-10-2020 01:19 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  The Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh is so tight, getting in and out of old Pitt stadium was quite the task. I had to do a hospital call up at UPMC-Presby a couple of years back at the tip- off time of a sPitt game at the Peterson. (The main entrance to the hospital is across the street from the main entrance to the arena...) No problems whatsoever. (The game was sparsely attended.) When I remarked that to the hospital staff, they laughed and said how different the situation was from the days when the football stadium was there...

Interesting insight. I'm in the Oakland area about once a year on business myself. While I like it and respect Pitt in terms of their research and academics, I don't think its campus compares favorably with UC at all.

While UC is still expanding outside of what's referred to by some as the "superblock" (bounded by Calhoun/Clifton/MLK/Jefferson) that west campus core is pretty amazing now with the architecture and green space that you rarely find at major universities within major cities.

(06-10-2020 01:51 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(06-10-2020 01:19 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  The Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh is so tight, getting in and out of old Pitt stadium was quite the task. I had to do a hospital call up at UPMC-Presby a couple of years back at the tip- off time of a sPitt game at the Peterson. (The main entrance to the hospital is across the street from the main entrance to the arena...) No problems whatsoever. (The game was sparsely attended.) When I remarked that to the hospital staff, they laughed and said how different the situation was from the days when the football stadium was there...

Interesting insight. I'm in the Oakland area about once a year on business myself. While I like it and respect Pitt in terms of their research and academics, I don't think its campus compares favorably with UC at all.

While UC is still expanding outside of what's referred to by some as the "superblock" (bounded by Calhoun/Clifton/MLK/Jefferson) that west campus core is pretty amazing now with the architecture and green space that you rarely find at major universities within major cities.

I agree, on the whole...

The one thing the Pitt campus has going for it are the signature buildings: the "Cathedral of Learning" and Heinz Chapel. It is almost unimaginable that either of those two buildings could ever be built in this current climate, and they are the "brand" for the University of Pittsburgh. UC's buildings don't stand out in the same fashion.

(06-10-2020 01:51 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(06-10-2020 01:19 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  The Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh is so tight, getting in and out of old Pitt stadium was quite the task. I had to do a hospital call up at UPMC-Presby a couple of years back at the tip- off time of a sPitt game at the Peterson. (The main entrance to the hospital is across the street from the main entrance to the arena...) No problems whatsoever. (The game was sparsely attended.) When I remarked that to the hospital staff, they laughed and said how different the situation was from the days when the football stadium was there...

Interesting insight. I'm in the Oakland area about once a year on business myself. While I like it and respect Pitt in terms of their research and academics, I don't think its campus compares favorably with UC at all.

While UC is still expanding outside of what's referred to by some as the "superblock" (bounded by Calhoun/Clifton/MLK/Jefferson) that west campus core is pretty amazing now with the architecture and green space that you rarely find at major universities within major cities.

Funny that you guys are bringing up the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. I will be there Friday and Saturday. Sad to learn that "The O" had closed, but I heard that Mark Cuban was trying to buy the legendary restaurant.